Michelle Wise-cracks Her Way To Toyland

February 21, 1991|By Vince Kowalick, Los Angeles Daily News.

LOS ANGELES — Create a television sitcom, come up with a few smart-alecky zingers for a precocious, too-cute-to-believe youngster to repeatedly deliver, have the entire supporting cast take turns feeding the kid straight lines, and what have you got?

A hit show, of course. And maybe even a hit doll.

The past holiday season witnessed the much-expected and well-received arrival of the talking Bart Simpson doll and other accessories based on the offbeat animated sitcom ``The Simpsons.``

And now, the talking Michelle doll, patterned after the strawberry-blond, blue-eyed, brightly talkative star of the highly rated ABC show ``Full House,`` is scheduled to hit toy-store shelves next month after making its debut at the recent American International Toy Fair in New York City.

The job of introducing the doll to the public fell to 4-year-old twins Ashley and Mary Kate Olsen, who share the duty of portraying Michelle on the weekly half-hour program and also provided the voice for the 14-inch figure.

The smiling twins recently hosted an afternoon tea on the ``Full House``

set in Culver City to answer questions, make cleverly cued wisecracks and provide a sneak preview of the doll.

Wearing matching blue and white dresses with pink belts and pink ribbons in their hair, the twins took turns squeezing their dolls, which causes them to recite one of Michelle`s six sassy sayings, including ``You got it, dude,`` ``No way, Jose,`` ``You talking to me?`` and ``Whoa, baby!``

The twins, who stated that their favorite television shows are ``The Simpsons`` and ``Full House,`` often mimicked the dolls` utterances, to the laughter of those in attendance.

Meritus Industries, a New Jersey-based toy manufacturer, spent six months developing the Michelle doll at an undisclosed cost after research revealed that Michelle is the second-most popular television character among children, next to Bill Cosby`s Dr. Cliff Huxtable.

``We saw the show, and we saw the potential of this little girl to share with other little girls her specialness,`` Meritus president Walter Reiling said. ``We felt that that`s what little girls are all about.``

By the end of the year, Meritus is scheduled to release an entire Michelle line of clothing and other accessories that commonly accompany dolls. The doll`s suggested retail price will be about $25, Meritus president Walter Reiling said.

Will Michelle be bigger than Bart Simpson? Probably not, according to Mary Kate Olsen.